This knife is a one of a kind large Lile folding hunter. Full scale mastadon ivory slab handles... the only locking folder with a full scale ivory handle. This knife was a surprise gift to Jimmy from Marilyn Lile on February 22, 1980 to commemorate Jimmy and Marilyn's 25th Anniversary. A very special piece.

This is Jimmy Lile's second folder. The blade is hand signed "1-only 06 69" and was engraved by a jeweler in Springdale, Ar. D2 steel, hand carved walnut finger grooved handle and brass liners.

The Jimmy Lile "First Prototype 1975" Large Folding Hunter. The blade is hand stamped LILE (somewhat crudely compared to later stamps) and the knife is etched, "First Prototype 1975". This is the cat's meow with respect to very special pieces as this prototype was made several years before Jimmy was granted his patent (April, 1979) for the button lock mechanism. Future button lock models were given to Presidents and dignitaries -- one (or more) are on display in the Smithsonian Institute. And to think it all started with this piece.

A one only automatic that Marilyn Lile states was made in the 1970's. (see letter) This one has me scratching my head, as the mechanism works much smoother than a similar automatic made in 1984. While not certain, I think that this one might have been made post-1984.

This is an early experimental Lile single blade automatic. This knife is script signed "Lile Prototype -1984 - 1 Only". I believe this to be the exact knife featured on page 167 in the book, "James B. Lile: The Arkansas Knifesmith".

This knife belonged to Jim and he is in the process of writing up the description. 13 photos available -- please check back soon.

This is the Lile lockback prototype that is featured on page 161 in the book, "James B. Lile: The Arkansas Knifesmith". The blade is script signed with only the word "Prototype" on reverse.

This one had a nice little two year vacation overseas but is now back on terra firma here in the good old US of A. It's a Lile two-blade prototype or 1-Only with blades at each end. It's rather simple by today's standards -- it's the simplicity and crudeness that I find most appealing. The body is 3-1/2" long -- the knife measures 8-1/2" with both blades fully open.

This is an early Lile large lockback folding knife with elephant ivory inserts. Pretty but not perfect -- a few light marks on the blade and one check in one of the ivory inserts. All said, the rarity of the script signature and elephant ivory easily offset any imperfections.